Category: Outdoor Adventures
Ideas and tips for outdoor adventures in North America and beyond. Hiking, biking, off-roading, scuba, and more! From activities for nature lovers to adrenaline junkies.
Unforgettable Little Blue Penguins Tour in Akaroa
When we got the official Visa acceptance notification and realized we'd have an additional six months in New Zealand, we knew our mission: see as many penguins as possible. We had tried with no luck at some of the popular viewing areas earlier in the year, but this... Read more
Pleasantly Surprised by New Plymouth, NZ
Our original plan for visiting the New Plymouth area was to explore Mount Taranaki, but we really enjoyed this area much more than we realized we would and (due to weather) ended up seeing far more of it than we realized! Staying at Oakura Beach Although the New... Read more
Mount Taranaki’s Wilkies Pools Hike – A Lush Adventure!
Some of our favorite hiking memories were poorly planned, last-minute adventures that went nothing as we expected. And the Wilkies Pools Hike in the Mount Taranaki (aka Egmont National Park) area was a prime example of the magic of spontaneity. When we looked up and... Read more
Mangawhai Heads Cliff Walk – A Favorite NZ Hike
In New Zealand's Northland area, there are some fantastic hikes and beach walks. But the Mangawhai Heads Cliff Walk combines both, which makes it so wonderfully special. You'll just have to check the tides to make sure you will be able to walk on the beach! Mangawhai... Read more
Finding Clarity on the Stunning Hooker Valley Track in Mount Cook
When we arrived in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park area in mid-March, we weren't in the best headspace. The weather was bad, we were exhausted, and outside New Zealand the world as we knew it was shutting down due to the pandemic … and NZ wasn't far behind... Read more
Falling in Love with Dunedin, NZ, During Lockdown
Now that we are allowed to move about in New Zealand again, us tourists turned temporary residents all ask each other the same question: “Where did you end up during lockdown?” While some were at hostels sharing rooms and meals with other backpackers, we... Read more
Memorable Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise in New Zealand
We originally planned to go to both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound during out epic New Zealand road trip, but with the intense flooding that happened just before our visit, Milford was no longer an option without a very long bus ride. So, we chose to spend what we... Read more
5 Fun Day Trips from Queenstown & Why It Makes a Great Base
As we traveled around New Zealand, all the other backpackers warned about how busy Queenstown is. And our research came up with similar results. We actually almost cut our trip there short! But with so much to do in the area, we decided to base almost a week of our... Read more
Coronet Peak for a Memorable Picnic Date with Queenstown Views
Note: We visited Coronet Peak in early March 2020. With the current lockdown in New Zealand due to Coronavirus, this activity is not available at the moment. But, keep it in mind for a future trip! The Queenstown area is known for its epic views and adventurous... Read moreBrooke Wrote a Book
Become a House Sitter
